Lumen Christi 'Adds to Tradition' Once Again, This Time in Record Fashion
By
Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com
November 29, 2024
DETROIT – The more things change in high school football – with the proliferation of spread offenses and sophisticated passing attacks – the more things stay the same at Jackson Lumen Christi.
The Titans won their state-record 14th title of the MHSAA playoff era Friday with an old-fashioned power running attack which didn’t look a whole lot different than what they rode to their first championship at the Pontiac Silverdome back in 1977.
Only the names have changed, and the big name for these Titans was senior running back Kadale Williams (6-foot-1, 180 pounds), who rushed 27 times for a Finals-record 314 yards and five touchdowns in a 56-18 victory over Lansing Catholic at Ford Field.
“It’s a very special moment,” said Williams, who had been committed to Central Michigan, but re-opened his recruiting after the recent retirement of head coach Jim McElwain.
“I couldn’t have done it with those guys up front. We have a special chemistry and bond and, honestly, it’s going to be sad moving on.”
Lumen Christi, which finished 13-1 with its only loss coming at Pontiac Notre Dame in Week 2, simply couldn’t be stopped Friday – as its offense (which features 10 senior starters) scored touchdowns on its first eight possessions, building up a 21-6 lead after one quarter, 42-12 by halftime and 56-18 with a running clock after three quarters.
“I thought we played great,” said 45th-year Lumen Christi coach Herb Brogan. “That was a very, very dangerous offense over there on the other side, and to hold them to 18 points is something that hasn’t been done in a while.
“On offense, we were just relentless. We blocked well, and Kadale had a great game.”
Williams registered scoring runs of 36 and six yards in the opening quarter, 76 and five yards in the second quarter and, finally, a two-yard run in the third quarter.
Williams was able to get a head of steam on many of his runs behind the offensive line of senior center Tim Smiley, senior guards Drew Sweeney and Andy Salazar, senior tackle Maverick Stergakos and junior tackle Antwon Baker. Salazar was also 8-for-8 on extra-point kicks.
Also making key blocks on Williams scoring runs were fullback Isaac Rehberg and tight end Charlie Saunders.
Lansing Catholic (10-4), which lost three games in the Capital Area Activities Conference White but found its stride in the postseason, tried to keep up with the Titans through the air.
Cougars senior quarterback Alex Fernandez (6-3, 230) was outstanding, completing 21-of-29 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns – both to senior wideout Xavier Luea, covering six and 41 yards – while rushing 18 times for 82 yards and another score.
The difference was on the ground, where Lumen held a commanding 435-87 edge.
“I am very proud of this team, to go from 3-6 last regular season to Ford Field, which is every boy’s dream in this state,” said fourth-year Lansing Catholic coach Jim Baker, who led the Cougars to a Division 6 championship in his first season in 2021.
“We ran into a very good team and tried to throw some different things at them, but at the end of the day, we just couldn’t stop No. 1 (Williams).”
The Titans also came up with some huge individual defensive plays to keep the Cougars from drawing closer.
Senior safety Adam Fuller made a big hit on Fernandez as he scrambled toward the end zone on the final play of first half. Junior Jack Fitzpatrick also tackled a Lansing Catholic receiver short of the first down on a key fourth-down play, and junior defensive lineman Antwon Baker was regularly in position to stop Fernandez on scramble plays.
Amarion Clay led the Titans with nine tackles, while Josh DuMont and Saunders each had seven stops.
The Cougars were led defensively by Noah Jungwirth and Braden Rabideau with eight tackles and David Magaway and Fernandez with seven stops.
Brogan, who now has been the head coach for 12 of Lumen Christi’s 14 titles, picked up career win 421, leaving him trailing only John Herrington (443 at Farmington Hills Harrison) and Al Fracassa (430 at Royal Oak Shrine Catholic and Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice) in the MHSAA record book.
A closer look at his record reveals that Brogan, 75, appears to be getting better with age.
Brogan, who took over as Lumen Christi’s coach in 1980 at the age of 30, won six state championships during his first 36 years as head coach – and has won six more over the last nine years.
“It’s too much fun,” said Brogan, when asked about retirement. “As long as, God-willing, I’m healthy enough, I want to be out there.
“We have a great tradition at Lumen Christi, and I ask the kids every year: ‘Are you going to try to live off that tradition, or are you going to add to it?’ These kids certainly added something to it.”
PHOTOS (Top) Lumen Christi’s Kadale Williams (1) follows his blocker into an opening Saturday at Ford Field. (Middle) The Titans’ Josh DuMont attempts to elude a Lansing Catholic tackler. (Below) The Cougars’ Alex Fernandez (2) breaks a tackle as Cassius Griffin (23) closes in. (Photos by Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
Drive for Detroit: Week 4 in Review
September 18, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Streaks were broken, upsets were hatched, and significant steps toward league titles were taken all over Michigan during a Week 4 full of the unexpected.
See below for the results that popped off the page in every region of our state and on the 8-player scene as changes of the guard began to take hold from Detroit to Muskegon to the Lake Huron coast and across the middle of the Upper Peninsula.
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Bay & Thumb
Saginaw Swan Valley 21, Freeland 14
Freeland had won 24 straight regular-season games since its loss to Swan Valley in Week 6 of 2014, and the Vikings (3-1) surely enjoyed this even a little more after also falling in the playoffs to the Falcons (3-1) last fall. Swan Valley got the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter and now sits tied with Alma atop the Tri-Valley Conference Central standings. Click for more from the Saginaw News.
Also noted:
Beaverton 33, Houghton Lake 25 – The Beavers (4-0) are now off to their best start since 1984 and with a key obstacle overcome in the Jack Pine Conference; Houghton Lake (2-2) was a playoff team last season.
Fenton 48, Linden 13 – Although not close for the first time in a few years, downing the rival Eagles (3-1) could eventually result in Fenton (4-0) winning its seventh straight Flint Metro League title.
Lake Fenton 20, Goodrich 7 – The reigning Genesee Area Conference Red champion Blue Devils (3-1) now have two contenders out of the way as Goodrich (3-1) has bounced back nicely from going 0-9 in 2016.
Marine City 35, Marysville 7 – The Mariners (4-0) equaled their win total from last year’s rare non-playoff season and should feel pretty comfortable in the Macomb Area Conference Gold with this win over the reigning champion Vikings (2-2) to go with an earlier one over 2016 runner-up Port Huron Northern.
Greater Detroit
West Bloomfield 37, Clarkston 16
After close losses to Walled Lake Western and Bloomfield Hills to open this season, West Bloomfield is hitting stride. The Lakers (2-2) got back into the Oakland Activities Association Red hunt by downing the reigning co-champion Wolves (3-1) as standout quarterback Bryce Veasley again posted massive passing numbers and the West Bloomfield defense improved by 26 points from last year’s meeting. Click for more from the Oakland Press.
Also noted:
Waterford Mott 47, Walled Lake Western 37 – Mott (3-1) quietly is working toward a fourth straight playoff season, but ending an 11-game regular-season winning streak for the reigning Division 2 runner-up Warriors (3-1) remained a headline-grabber nonetheless.
Utica Eisenhower 49, Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 42 – Winning the prestigious MAC Red is a multi-step process, and this was a significant one as Eisenhower (4-0) seeks to repeat as champion and Chippewa Valley (3-1) is always among contenders.
Ferndale 17, Detroit Country Day 7 – The Eagles (3-1) are building off last season’s first playoff berth since 2008 with a great start now highlighted with their best win in at least a decade; reigning Division 4 runner-up Country Day (1-3) has three defeats by 13 points or fewer.
Oak Park 34, Birmingham Groves 14 – After falling to Groves (3-1) by just a point last season, Oak Park (3-1) could be headed toward winning the OAA White this time after a victory over the reigning champ.
Mid-Michigan
Grand Ledge 27, Lansing Sexton 14
Grand Ledge remains the arguable favorite in the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue as it seeks a third straight league title. The Big Reds (3-1) remain in discussion of the Lansing area’s best teams, but Grand Ledge pushed its lead to 20 midway through the fourth quarter and now has three solid wins to go with a Week 2 loss to DeWitt. Undefeated Okemos is next up. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.
Also noted:
Beal City 16, Leroy Pine River 7 – The Aggies (3-1) are working toward taking back the Highland Conference title after avenging last year’s 34-7 loss to reigning league champion Pine River (0-4).
Fulton 26, Fowler 20 – This rivalry game frequently is followed by a rematch in the playoffs, and the Pirates (3-1) now have a much better chance of making it back for the first time 2014 after equaling their win total of each of the last two years while knocking Fowler down to 2-2.
Lake Odessa Lakewood 36, Vermontville Maple Valley 7 – Maple Valley’s 3-1 start and best season already since 2014 are still worth celebrating, but the Greater Lansing Activities Conference looks like it will come down again to reigning champion Lakewood (4-0) and Olivet.
Lansing Catholic 35, Williamston 34 – The Cougars (4-0) squeaked out this CAAC White win to give this week’s matchup with Portland major title implications; Williamston (2-2) is just outside after also losing to Portland by only seven in Week 3.
Northern Lower Peninsula
AuGres-Sims 48, Lincoln Alcona 46
AuGres-Sims’ offense caught up after losing to Alcona 58-20 a year ago, with this win putting the Wolverines at 4-0 for the first time since 2006. The Wolverines are averaging 46 points per game this season, 11 more than a year ago when they finished 7-3. Alcona (3-1) will need some help now to repeat as North Star League champion; the Tigers didn’t lose in the league last season. Click for more from the Alpena News.
Also noted:
Alpena 23, Cadillac 14 – The Wildcats (2-2) had only two wins a year ago, and now have two plus two close losses as they play for their first winning record since 2004; Cadillac (1-3) has a tough road ahead starting with undefeated Wyoming Godwin Heights next.
Elk Rapids 17, Kalkaska 0 – The Elks have gone from no wins in 2015 to two last season and now stand 3-1 this fall after bouncing back from a Week 3 loss to hand Kalkaska (3-1) its first.
Gaylord St. Mary 20, Whittemore-Prescott 12 – The Snowbirds (4-0) continued to prep for a strong league slate by handing a second straight defeat to annual playoff team W-P (2-2).
McBain 34, Evart 10 – McBain (3-1) bounced back from a Lake City loss in Week 3 to down another playoff hopeful in the Wildcats (2-2).
Southeast & Border
Brooklyn Columbia Central 46, Ida 38
While Columbia Central had put together a combined 15-5 record over the last two seasons, Ida has been the class of the Lenawee County Athletic Association of late with two straight league titles (last season shared) and only one loss in its last 15 league games before this defeat. The win was Columbia Central’s first ever against the Bluestreaks (3-1); the Golden Eagles (3-1) will now root for Ida to beat Hudson in Week 7, possibly their best chance at securing a shared league title after losing to the Tigers in Week 3. Click for more from the Jackson Citizen-Patriot.
Also noted:
Addison 32, Napoleon 30 – The Cascades Conference has taken all kinds of turns early; Napoleon (2-2) looked like the new favorite for a bit, but Addison (4-0) has stepped in tying its win total from 2016 and its most since 2010.
Parma Western 28, Coldwater 21 – The Panthers (3-1) impressively bounced back from a loss to Marshall in Week 3 to hand annual league contender Coldwater (3-1) its first defeat, potentially jumbling up a competitive Interstate Eight Athletic Conference race.
Morenci 26, Clinton 20 – The Bulldogs (2-2) ran their streak against Clinton (2-2) to two straight to pull to .500 after two losses by a combined three points to start the fall.
Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 28, Detroit Loyola 15 – The Fighting Irish (4-0) have one more win than all of last season with their best start since 2010, and with this one may have eliminated the reigning Division 7 runner-up Bulldogs (0-4) from playoff consideration.
Southwest Corridor
Stevensville Lakeshore 14, St. Joseph 6
The “War by the Shore” went Lakeshore’s way for the fourth straight season as the Lancers put two touchdowns on the board during the first quarter and then clamped down on St. Joseph’s offense. Combined with a Week 3 win over Portage Central, Lakeshore (4-0) looks to have a good handle on the Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference West race – it’s looking to secure its first league title since 2014, with Portage Northern (1-3) and Niles (2-2) left to play. Click for more from the St. Joseph Herald-Palladium.
Also noted:
Benton Harbor 29, Berrien Springs 7 – Don’t give up on Benton Harbor (1-3); after opening with three losses, the Tigers began their must-win stretch by handing Berrien Springs (3-1) its first defeat.
Edwardsburg 28, Dowagiac 20 – The Chieftains (2-2) gave Edwardsburg (4-0) easily its toughest game so far this season as the Eddies added a 32nd straight Wolverine Conference win (since Dowagiac handed them their last league loss in 2012.)
Schoolcraft 24, Saugatuck 21 – Life after graduated star Blake Dunn has seen Saugatuck (2-2) lose its first and second regular-season games since 2014 but now look pretty good as a favorite heading into the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore schedule; Schoolcraft (3-1) is looking at a tougher path to three-peat in the Valley.
Portage Central 49, Traverse City Central 34 – After both lost to their league rivals in Week 3, Portage Central (3-1) enjoyed the most bounce-back although the Trojans (2-2) should benefit from playing such a strong nonleague foe.
Upper Peninsula
Gladstone 20, Ishpeming Westwood 12
The Braves are piling up memorable wins, and moving to 4-0 gave them their most victories in a season since also winning four in 2010. The switch from the Great Northern Conference to the Mid-Peninsula Conference certainly has made a difference for the small Class B school, but Gladstone also has dominated against a tough opening group – Westwood (3-1) also has been building what could be its best season this decade. Click for more from the Escanaba Daily Press.
Also noted:
Escanaba 45, Marquette 28 – The Eskymos (3-1) made it two straight over rival Marquette (1-3) and five wins in the last seven meetings of the biggest schools in the Upper Peninsula.
L'Anse 20, Hancock 18 – The Purple Hornets (3-1) bounced back from a Week 3 loss to Westwood to surpass last season’s win total and hand the Bulldogs (3-1) their first defeat.
Newberry 24, Munising 22 – The Mid-Eastern Conference is down to five teams, but five that could make the playoffs; Newberry (3-1) is the early leader, but Munising (2-2) could find its way into a shared league title.
Norway 21, Gwinn 6 – The Knights (4-0) also play in the Mid-Eastern Conference and have loaded up on impressive nonleague wins heading into their four conference games starting this week; Gwinn (2-2) has its work cut out as it looks to make the playoffs for a second straight season.
West Michigan
Whitehall 28, Muskegon Oakridge 14
Oakridge (3-1) has had quite a hold on the West Michigan Conference with three perfect runs through the league over the last five seasons and 37 wins over its last 39 league games. Whitehall (3-1) has made the playoffs three straight seasons but been just outside the league title mix thanks in large part to 17 straight losses to the Eagles. The Vikings can’t celebrate yet – but a win over similarly-powerful Montague this week would solidify their league title campaign. Click for more from the Local Sports Journal.
Also noted:
Comstock Park 49, Allendale 40 – The Panthers, 2-7 a year ago but 4-0 now, need only 43 more points to equal last season’s output and look like a contender in an Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue that has a number of annual playoff teams, with Allendale (1-3) now facing a must-win road to make it two straight appearances.
Coopersville 28, Sparta 21 – The Broncos (3-1) might hope to enter the O-K Blue mix already with two more wins than all of last year after handing Sparta (3-1) its first.
Muskegon 63, Byron Center 14 – The Big Reds (4-0) made it three wins over two seasons against Byron Center (3-1), a strong program in its own right with a combined 13-3 record since the start of 2016.
Grand Rapids Christian 33, Grand Rapids South Christian 12 – The Eagles (4-0) made it eight straight over what used to be an opening night nonleague rival before South Christian (3-1) joined the O-K Gold last season.
8-Player
Rapid River 26, Ontonagon 22
The way things are shaking out, this should eventually help decide the Western Eight Conference title. Rapid River (4-0) has a win over Crystal Falls Forest Park, and Ontonagon (3-1) has downed Powers North Central; Stephenson also is 4-0 and will see Rapid River in Week 7. By then the league should be more sorted out, and it seems likely the Rockets will be in the mix to lead it. Click for more from the Houghton Daily Mining Gazette.
Also noted:
Bay City All Saints 69, New Haven Merritt 26 – The move to 8-player this fall is suiting All Saints (3-1) as it equaled last season’s win total by downing a 2016 playoff team in Merritt (2-2).
Deckerville 20, Kingston 14 – The Eagles (4-0) haven’t had many close games over the last two seasons, but leave it to the rival Cardinals (2-2) to provide easily the toughest challenge this fall.
Onekama 36, Wyoming Tri-unity Christian 8 – The Portagers (4-0) also have adjusted seamlessly to a new format, with this win over the 2016 semifinalist Defenders (2-2) the latest of a dominating start.
Bellevue 28, Portland St. Patrick 6 – The Broncos (4-0) are yet another first-year 8-player team finding the going smooth as they handed St. Patrick (3-1) its first regular-season loss since 2015.
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PHOTO: Lansing Sexton and Grand Ledge linemen lock up during Friday's Comets victory. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)